Contents Introduction ...... xv
Prayers for before My Grandchild Is Born For an Unborn Grandchild (St. Gerard) ...... 2 When Facing Struggles with Infertility ...... 3 When Grieving a Miscarriage ...... 4 For a New Mother (Mary) ...... 5 For a New Father (St. Joseph) ...... 6 For Twins or Multiple Births (St. Benedict and St. Scholastica) ...... 7
Prayers for Newborn and Infant Grandchildren For a Mother in Labor (St. Colette of Corbie) . . . .10 For a Baby in Intensive Care (St. Nicholas) . . . . .11 In Celebration ...... 12 For an Adopted Grandchild ...... 13 For a Grandchild with Special Needs (Bl. Margaret of Castello) ...... 14 For an Infant with Health Issues (St. Jude) . . . . . 16 On the Death of My Tiny Grandchild ...... 17 Prayers for Sacramental Graces For a Child’s Baptism (St. John the Baptist) . . . . .19 For a Grandchild Not Baptized ...... 21 For First Reconciliation (St. Padre Pio) ...... 22 For First Communion (Bl. Imelda Lambertini) . . .24 For Confirmation—Prayer to the Holy Spirit . . . .25 For Altar Servers (St. John Berchmans) ...... 26 For a Grandchild Getting Married ...... 27 For the Marriage of My Grandchild’s Parents . . . .28 For Vocations (St. Teresa of Calcutta) ...... 29 For the Anointing of the Sick ...... 31
Prayers to Help My Grandchild Grow in Virtue A Morning Offering ...... 33 For Grandchildren in Need of Guidance ...... 34 For Faithfulness in Daily Duties ...... 36 For Faith and Action (St. Elizabeth Ann Seton) . . .37 For Goodness ...... 38 For Knowing True Beauty ...... 39 For Holiness ...... 40 For Joy ...... 41 In Trials ...... 42 For Humility ...... 43 Against Harsh Judgments ...... 44 For Living Kindness ...... 45 For Living Love (Ven. Francois-Xavier Nguyễn Văn Thuận) ...... 46 For Living Mercy (St. Faustina Kowalska) . . . . . 47 For Living Obedience (St. Ignatius of Loyola) . . . .48 For Living Peace ...... 49 For Living Persistence (St. Juan Diego) ...... 51 For Living Purity (St. Agnes of Rome) ...... 52 For Living Responsibility (Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati) ...... 53 For Strong Convictions ...... 54 For Trust ...... 55 For Charity ...... 56 For Grandchildren in Need of Grandparents (Sts. Anne and Joachim) ...... 57
Prayers for My Growing Grandchild For Daily Care ...... 59 For a Grandchild in Daycare ...... 60 When a Grandchild Is Disciplined ...... 61 For Playing with Others ...... 62 For Sibling Bonds ...... 63 For the First Day of School ...... 64 As We Read Together ...... 65 Prayers for Elementary and Middle School Years To Reach Full Potential ...... 67 To Make Good Daily Choices ...... 68 For Commitment ...... 69 For Safety in Playing Sports (Bl. Pier Giorgio Frassati) ...... 70 To Use Technology Wisely (St. Isidore of Seville) . . 71 To Cultivate Good Television Habits (St. Clare of Assisi) ...... 72 For Good Friendships ...... 73 Against Negative Peer Pressure ...... 74 For Courage (St. George of Lydda) ...... 75 For Balance (St. John Paul II) ...... 76 To Hear Jesus’ Call ...... 77 For Transitions ...... 78
Prayers for Teenage Years In High School (St. Raphael) ...... 80 For a First Job Interview ...... 81 For Gender Identity Issues ...... 82 When a Grandchild Starts Dating ...... 83 When a Grandchild Starts Driving (St. Christopher) ...... 84 For Choosing a College ...... 85 On My Grandchild’s Graduation ...... 86 For a Grandchild Leaving Home ...... 87 Against Wavering Faith (St. Monica) ...... 88 For an Unwed Pregnancy ...... 89 For a Serious Illness ...... 90 For a Return to the Faith (St. Anthony of Padua) . . 91 When a Family Faces Divorce ...... 93 When There Is a Death in the Family ...... 94
Prayers for Adult Grandchildren Prayer for a Vocation (St. Alphonsus Liguori) . . . .96 In Thanksgiving for the Single Life ...... 97 A Marriage Blessing ...... 98 When a Granddaughter Becomes a Mother . . . . 99 When a Grandson Becomes a Father ...... 100 Prayer before an Adult Grandchild’s Visit . . . . .101 Prayer after an Adult Grandchild’s Visit ...... 102
Prayers for Serious Needs For Acceptance of Imperfections ...... 104 For Parents Fallen Away from the Faith ...... 105 For a Struggling Marriage (St. Rita of Cascia) . . . 106 For a Single Parent (St. Margaret of Cortona) . . . 107 On the Loss of a Pet (St. Francis of Assisi) . . . . .108 For Those with Eating Disorders ...... 109 For Those with Cancer (St. Peregrine Laziosi) . . .110 Before an Operation (Sts. Cosmas and Damian) . .111 For Those with Anxiety and Depression (St. Dymphna) ...... 112 On the Death of a Grandchild’s Friend, with Faith ...... 114 On the Death of a Grandchild’s Friend, without Faith ...... 115 On the Death of My Great-Grandchild ...... 116
Traditional Prayers and Novenas Introduction ...... 118
Prayers Act of Consecration to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal ...... 119 Act of Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus . .120 The Angelus ...... 122 Anima Christi ...... 124 Anima Christi for My Grandchild ...... 125 Chaplet of Divine Mercy ...... 126 Guardian Angel Prayer ...... 128 Consecration of the Family ...... 129 Mary, Undoer of Knots ...... 131 Padre Pio Prayer for My Grandchild ...... 132 Rosary for My Grandchild ...... 133 St. Michael Prayer (Against Evil) ...... 146 St. Patrick’s Breastplate ...... 147 St. Patrick’s Breastplate for My Grandchild . . . . 148 From St. Teresa of Avila’s Bookmark (For a Worried Grandchild) ...... 150 St. Teresa of Avila Prayer ...... 151 Stations of the Cross for My Grandchild . . . . . 152
Novenas A Nine-Day Novena for a Grandchild’s Needs . . .160 Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes (For Healing) . . .165 Infant of Prague Novena of Childlike Confidence . 166 Prayer to the Infant of Prague for My Grandchild . 167 St. Andrew Novena (A Prayer to Conceive) . . . . 168 St. Jude Novena (For Medical Concerns) . . . . . 169 St. Rita Novena (For Serious Illness) ...... 170 St. Thérèse of the Child Jesus Novena ...... 171
Acknowledgments ...... 172